PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darius Thibodeaux (ranked 25309 p4p, 6641 weight class) and Kevin Waters (ranked 757 p4p, 706 weight class). Darius Thibodeaux could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kevin Waters's chin.

Thibodeaux
vs
Waters

188 cm
18
200
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
190
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kevin Waters!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thibodeaux misses with a hook.
Waters tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thibodeaux misses with a wild body shot.
Waters shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thibodeaux as he avoids it easily.
Thibodeaux throws a hook but Waters avoids it easily.
Waters drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Thibodeaux misses with a wild body shot.

Waters feints and as Thibodeaux raises his hands in defense, Waters changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Waters is looking to pass into half guard but Thibodeaux pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Thibodeaux is in guard.

Thibodeaux looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Waters had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thibodeaux defends it easily.
Waters has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA Montreal. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Waters looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thibodeaux passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thibodeaux definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.
Thibodeaux controlling the action here.
Thibodeaux has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.

Waters looking for submissions off his back.
Thibodeaux is pressing down on Waters's thigh, looking to free his foot. Waters is holding on for now.
Thibodeaux prevents Waters from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Waters actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Waters wants to get back to full guard.
Waters looks winded!

Waters looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Waters looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thibodeaux content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Thibodeaux.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thibodeaux works the jab nicely.
Thibodeaux cracks a nice hook into Waters's ribs.
Nice straight punches there by Thibodeaux. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thibodeaux.
Waters closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the side of Waters's head but Waters sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Waters walks into a left hand.
A lazy left from Thibodeaux finds it's target.

Waters is rocked!
Waters circles to his right, straight into a beautiful hook by Thibodeaux. Waters falls face first into the canvas - great knockout victory for Thibodeaux!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Darius Thibodeaux!